Apple Macintosh Performa 6400/200 vs Apple Macintosh Quadra 900

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Macintosh Performa 6400/200 compared with Macintosh Quadra 900

	AppleMacintosh Performa 6400/200	AppleMacintosh Quadra 900
Overview
Released
Released	1996	October 1991
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC 603e 200 MHz (Macintosh Performa 6400/200)	68040 25 MHz (Macintosh Quadra 900)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	16 MB or 32 MB (better)	4 MB
Storage
Storage	2.4 GB (better)	160 MB to 400 MB
CPU
CPU	200 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache, 256 KB L2 cache and 64-bit data path at 40 MHz	25 MHz Motorola 68040 with integrated memory-management and floating-point units and 8 KB on-chip cache; no standard L2 cache
GPU
GPU	Built-in video with 1 MB DRAM supports 640 × 480 at 16-bit colour and 1024 × 768 at 8-bit colour	Built-in video with 1 MB VRAM, expandable to 2 MB; Apple lists 8-bit colour at 640 × 480, 832 × 624 and 1152 × 870 with standard VRAM, and 24-bit at 640 × 480 and 832 × 624 with 2 MB
Memory type
Memory type	8 MB on the logic board, two 168-pin DIMM slots and 16–136 MB total supported by Apple	Sixteen 30-pin 80 ns SIMM slots in banks of four, with 4 MB standard. Apple's October 1991 catalogue supported 64 MB using 4 MB SIMMs; its later support sheet lists a 256 MB technical maximum using larger modules but notes 8 MB and 16 MB SIMMs are not supported by Apple. Original UK maker brochure explicitly advertises 256 MB using 16 MB SIMMs; that original maker qualification differs from the later support sheet's unsupported-module note.
Storage type
Storage type	2.4 GB internal IDE hard drive, 1.44 MB floppy drive and 8× CD-ROM drive	Internal 1.44 MB SuperDrive and optional 160 MB SCSI hard drive at launch; Apple listed a 400 MB version for January 1992. The case supports three further internal SCSI devices, including a removable-media device.
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	Two PCI slots plus Communications Slot II, TV and video input positions; the Video Editing Edition's Avid Cinema card uses one PCI slot	Five NuBus '90 slots and one processor-direct slot
Display
Screen
Screen	None built in	None built in
Connections
Ports
Ports	Headphone jack	Ethernet, headphone jack
Back ports
Back ports	DB-15 monitor output, Apple Desktop Bus, external DB-25 SCSI, two GeoPort serial connectors, PlainTalk microphone input and speaker output; front headphone jack	Apple Desktop Bus, DB-15 video, DB-25 SCSI, two serial ports, AAUI Ethernet, mono sound input and stereo sound output
External displays
External displays	–	Built-in video supports Apple's monitor range, with colour depth depending on VRAM and resolution; Apple's launch catalogue also names VGA, NTSC and PAL monitor support
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in subwoofer in the tower enclosure, as described by Apple Directions	Internal speaker, mono audio input and stereo sound output; Apple supplied a microphone
Design and power
Type
Type	Tower	Tower
Weight
Weight	–	16.7 kg
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	–	226 × 523 × 473 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Apple lists 16 × 7.8 × 16.9 inches (height × width × depth) and 44.5 lb	Apple's 18.6 × 8.9 × 20.6 inch dimensions and 36.8 lb weight for the floppy-only model; metric fields are rounded conversions
Power supply
Power supply	Apple lists a 220 W maximum, 100–125 or 200–240 V AC at 47–63 Hz	Maximum 303 W, 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 3.6 V lithium clock battery and keyboard soft power
In the box
In the box	Apple Directions lists a standard 16 MB configuration and a 32 MB Video Editing Edition with Avid Cinema hardware, both with 2.4 GB storage. Original System Software 7.5.3. Apple lists 5 August 1996 as introduction; a distinct maker first-sale date was not established.	Original System Software 7.0.1, microphone and ADB mouse; Apple's October 1991 catalogue says the keyboard was sold separately